Pinocchio in Outer Space is a 1965 animated science-fantasy film which sets Carlo Collodi's Pinocchio character on a rocketship adventure.
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Production
Peter Lazer performs the voice of Pinocchio. It was produced by Ray Goossens at Belvision Studios, with American involvement from Norm Prescott (Filmation) and Fred Ladd. The film was released in the US by Universal Pictures as well as the second animated film from Universal.
The French version was titled Pinocchio dans l'espace and the Dutch version was known as Pinocchio in de ruimte.
The Talking Cricket character was not present in this production. Instead, Pinocchio's sidekick was Nurtle, an alien Twertle (voiced by Arnold Stang), sent by his government to investigate an unusual increase of radiation on Mars. Together they battle against Astro, a marauding intergalactic whale who was seeking revenge after being abducted by a mysterious race of Martians.
Cast
Peter Lazer – Pinocchio
Arnold Stang – Nurtle the Twurtle
Ray Owens – Mister Geppetto
Conrad Jameson – G. Godline/Sharp
Mavis Mims – The Blue Fairy
Jess Cain – Groovy
Norman Rose – Fedora
Minerva Pious – The Blue Fairy's Mother
Kevin Kennedy – Astro The Space Whale
Comic strip adaptation
In 1965, the film was adapted into a comic strip by Willy Lateste, which was published in Tintin in Belgium.